Agreed.

Beautiful. The local church at its best.

24 years ago, almost to the day, I had to respond to riots in my then parish. Here’s what I learned. 1. It’s consuming. More often than not it’s nonsense too. Violent civil disobedience is just wrong. But it didn’t come from nowhere - it’s just *not* from where you thought

Horribly relevant at the moment - if you can get to Bristol on 15th September do come along to hear Helen Paynter speak about the Far Right and the UK church webnet.churchsuite.com/events/ddtsyqp7

Join us for an impactful 4-hour webinar on spiritual abuse with the renowned Dr. Lisa Oakley! As a leading expert in safeguarding faith communities, Dr. Oakley will provide valuable insights and strategies to address and prevent spiritual abuse.

Woop woop! Delighted to announce that SCM Press have been able to bring our book publication forward to the end of this month. AND they've reduced the price to £25 (though the website may not reflect that yet). Dr Maria Power and I are thrilled! scmpress.hymnsam.co.uk/books/97803340…

Join Helen Paynter and Dr Maria Power as they explore Christianity and the Far Right in the UK. They are one of many speakers at our upcoming conference at the end of September. Get day tickets, weekend tickets and online tickets now: tickettailor.com/events/jointpe…

Time for the church to start taking the rise in far right rhetoric more seriously? On our blog: @helenepaynter considers why the church needs to pay more attention to the rhetoric and acts of violence being done in its name. scmpress.hymnsam.co.uk/blog/why-the-c…

Congratulations Helen Paynter + SCM on earlier than originally planned + now very timely publication of this important book+ looking forward in October to engaging with aspects of it in context of a collaborative Centre for Baptist Studies, Oxford symposium Regent's Park College @CTPSR_Coventry + University of Derby

Today’s BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 Sunday programme has an excellent discussion with Helen Paynter on themes from the important new book she has edited with Dr Maria Power on Christianity & the Far Right. Final item bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00…

A poem, written by Peter Burns: Blessed are the persecuted, the set upon and torn apart Those seeking simple safety, freedom to follow their heart. Blessed are those striving for a life of their own choosing.... Read more (or watch Peter perform it): csbvbristol.org.uk/2024/08/14/ble…

Ashley Hibbard suggests that caution is needed among Christians in identifying what is—and isn’t—Israel from a theological perspective. csbvbristol.org.uk/2024/08/14/wha…

Highly recommend this opportunity to hear the brilliant Trevor Laurence

Breaking news! Save the date for our conferences next year. A church conference for ministers, trainees, and people in the churches. And a research conference for scholars and students. Both part of our 2025 Toxic Legacies Project.

Mark 7: 24 – 27 is the RCL Gospel reading for September 8. Rachel Starr invites us to read it in a new way… csbvbristol.org.uk/2024/08/26/hop…

Have you been following our Why Hope video series? This week, Helen Paynter explores the way the Spirit speaks through all in the Church. youtu.be/V6adg8XlW14

A new blog post about our project on right-wing extremism and the UK church, with information about a forthcoming online event (2nd October - save the date). modernchurch.org.uk/the-church-the…

What do the dissenting traditions have to contribute to this particular challenge? An in-person event in Oxford next month, where Dr Maria Power and I will be in conversation with Dr Paul Weller and Prof Paul Fiddes. rpc.ox.ac.uk/event/the-chur…